Wage FixingThe Premier’s attempt to cajole the NSW Industrial Relations Commission - and his subsequent eleventh hour bid to reopen wage negotiations - is about a lot more than the teachers' pay claim.

F E A T U R E S

Interview: Machine ManIt’s regarded as the most powerful job in the Party, but new NSW ALP general secretary Mark Arbib wants to build a bridge with the union movement.

Unions: Testing TimesUnions are not opposed to drug and alcohol testing, but they do want to see real safety issues addressed, writes Phil Doyle.

Bad Boss: Freespirit Haunts InternetFreeSpirit forked out a motza for a whiz bang internet presence then disappeared right off the radar – once it was nominated as our Bad Boss for May.

Unions: Badge of HonourSurry Hills is home to one of the world’s finest displays of union badges thanks to Bill "The Bear" Pirie and a supporting cast headed by Joe Strummer, Mark Knopfler, George Benson, Annie Lennox and other seriously big noises.

National Focus: Noel's WorldShrill bosses bleat over minimum wage rise, union spinmeisters congregate in Melbourne and Tassie’s nurses take the baton from their mob in Victoria reports Noel Hester in this national round up.

Economics: Safe RefugeA humanitarian approach to refugees and an economically rational one?? I’d like to see that. Frank Stilwell did, when he went to Young in NSW to look into the impact of the Afghan refugees on temporary protection visas who came to work for the local abattoir

International: Global AbuseAmnesty International have joined the chorus against the violation of trade union rights in the former Soviet republic of Belarus.

History: The HoneypotTo the Honeypot come those individuals anxious to get their hands on instant wealth. So it was in the early days of Broken Hill, wrties Grace Hawes in this homage to the mining town.

Review: Death And The Barbarians This new take on coming of age films focuses on the coming of death and the dignity and maturity it can inspire among those touched by it - though not always easily in the overcrowded Canadian public health system, writes Tara de Boehmler.

STOP PRESS - Mitsubishi Carves Up SA

The AMWU is warning politicians off gloating over news that Mitsubishi’s biggest South Australian operation, Tonsley Park, will survive the troubled company’s international restructure.

Mitsubishi Australia chief executive, Tom Phillips, told workers today (Friday) that the Tonsley assembly line, employing 2500 people, would continue but that the nearby Lonsdale engine plant would close in 18 months at the cost of 650 jobs.

The announcement followed a last-ditch mission to Japan by representative of the Federal coalition and state Labor Governments.

"Any politician who brags about the loss of 650 jobs in South Australia should hang his head in shame," AMWU national secretary Doug Cameron said after the announcement.

"The AMWU is delighted that the sword has been lifted from over the heads of Tonsley workers and their families but the fact remains that there will be substantial job losses through no fault of the workers affected."

Cameron said all Mitsubishi workers entitlements were protected under existing agreements and the union would commence immediate negotiations on improving redundancy provisions.

Cameron accused the Federal Government of doing "absolutely nothing" in its nine years in office to provide the nation with a manufacturing policy.

"It only shows any interest when this sort of dramatic development unfolds. Frankly, it's too little, too late," Cameron said.

He said the AMWU was committed to working with future governments on developing a coherent manufacturing policy.

"Australian workers and their families deserve that sort of attention and the wider community needs a manufacturing base that provides jobs, research and development and innovation."